WIDOW LEADS CALLS FOR FACILITY THAT WOULD BOOST SURVIVAL CHANCES
THE widow of a cancer campaigner has backed a call for a North Wales-based diagnosis centre for the disease.
Irfon Williams died in 2017 after a three-year battle with bowel cancer. He led a high-profile awareness-raising campaign for early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
His #teamirfon campaign also raised £150,000 for the NHS charity Awyr Las.
Now his wife Becky has joined Plaid Cymru in repeating calls for a North Wales diagnosis centre after new figures show that people in North Wales face a much higher chance of developing cancer than the rest of Wales.
The report, by the North West Cancer Research group, found the region has a “number of specific health challenges” and “over-indexes on 17 cancers” compared to the Welsh average.
According to the research, head and neck cancers have an 18% higher average incidence rate than the rest of Wales.
North Wales also has significantly higher rates of colon cancer than the rest of the country, with an 18% higher average rate of incidence.
Three of the six counties surveyed in North Wales have “markedly higher rates” of breast cancer than the national average, with overall rates of breast cancer in North Wales 15% higher than the national average.
Recently-published mortality figures reveal that cancer is the single biggest cause of death in North Wales, with 2,291 of the 8,156 recorded deaths attributable to the disease.
Another study carried out by Swansea University’s Centre for Health and
Economics found that waiting times for patients seen at rapid diagnostic centres were cut to less than six days, a 92% reduction in waiting times in the first year.
Becky Williams said: “I support Plaid Cymru’s call for a rapid diagnostic centre in North Wales.
“Wales has some of the poorest outcomes in Europe for bowel cancer – and one of the lowest cancer survival rates in Europe.
“We know that early diagnosis and treatment of not just bowel cancer but all cancers lead to improved outcomes for patients.
“An early diagnosis is the difference between life and death – it’s as simple as that.”
Arfon AM Sian Gwenllian added: “Research has shown that people in North Wales are at a much higher risk of developing cancer than in the rest of
Wales but we don’t have an early diagnosis centre here in the north. “Patients in North Wales deserve parity of care and service. That’s why Plaid Cymru is calling for investment in the development of a diagnostic centre here in north west Wales to ensure early diagnosis and better outcomes for our patients.
“Plaid Cymru want to ensure everyone has access to diagnostic tests and diagnosis within 28 days and would develop three Urgent Diagnostic Centres in Wales to enable quicker tests.
“We’d make it easier for GPs and other health professionals to refer patients to these centres.”
Ms Gwenllian, and Plaid Cymru candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd in the 2021 Senedd election Mabon ap Gwynfor, have been campaigning for a rapid diagnostic regional hub in North Wales.
Mr ap Gwynfor said: “Research shows that rapid diagnosis centres reduce mean time until diagnosis from 84 days to six days.
“Early diagnosis is critical to improve patient outcomes.
“This is why we need to roll out more diagnostic centres across Wales, particularly here in rural North Wales.
“The Welsh Government have piloted rapid diagnostic centres in two of the South Wales health board areas and they’ve been hailed a massive success.
“Patients in Dwyfor Meirionnydd and across North Wales deserve parity of service which is why Plaid Cymru is pushing for investment in the development of diagnostic centres here to ensure early diagnosis and better outcomes for our patients.”
The Welsh Government has been asked to comment.